Safety razor



H. s. GILMAN Aug 7, 1934.

SAFETY RAZOR Filed NOV. 16, 1932 i INVENTOR. H r 6m ATTORNEYQ Patented Aug. 7, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to safety razors and blades therefor and the principal objects of the invention are directed to the provision of a safety razor and blade wherein the maximum amount of flexibility of the blade is obtained and the razor is arranged to securely clamp the blade and take advantage of its flexibility. Various novel features and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter more fully referred to in connection with the accompanying description of the preferred form thereof which for purposes of disclosure is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of a razor embodying the novel features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the guard of. the razor shown in Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a plan viewv of a blade of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5'is an end elevational view of the blade shown in Fig. 3.

Referringnow to the drawing in detail the safety razor and blade of the invention will be more fully described.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a complete safety razor embodying the novel features of the invention. A handle 2, a guard member 3 and a clamping member 9 are shown as they are associated with a blade 16 in position between the members 3 and 9.

The handle 2 may or may not be secured to the guard member 3. In the form shown, a threaded socket 6 is provided in the upper end of the handle and an opening 20 is centrally located in the guard member. A threaded stud 8 of the clamping member is adapted to be received in a suitable opening 31 in the blade and the opening 20 in the guard and to be inserted in the threaded socket 6 of the handle. The blade may thus be firmly clamped between the members.

The guard member 3 has a raised or crowned portion 7 which ,extends centrally and longitudinally thereof. This raised portion is preferably curved as shown, but of course other forms may be taken. With the raised portion rounded asshown however, sharp edges which might cause the blade to break or crack are eliminated. By curving the portion it is also possible to provide for a greater flexing of the blade as will later appear. In any event, a. central longit dinally extending portion is raised above the plane of the guard proper to form a ridge or plateau, over which a blade fits.

In Fig. 2 the guard member 3 is shown more in detail. A central opening 20 is provided through the raised portion to receive the stud 8 of the clamping member 9 while projections 23 are located at spaced intervals on the raised portion '7. These projections are adapted to fit in holes 30 of the blade 32 to prevent its sliding longitudinally according to the preferred form of the invention, the projections extend transversely of the raised portion, but again it is desired to state that the particular form is a matter of choice. serrations or teeth 4 are provided onthe longitudinal marginal edges of the guard member to serve as a further safety feature and protect the sharp edges 17 of the blade.

The clamping member 9 has an inverted channel or indented groove portion 5 which corresponds to and is more or less complemental to the raised portion 7 of the guard member. Thus a blade of the novel form of the invention is adapted to be inserted on the guard member and held snugly in place by the clamping member. The raised portion 7 of the guard member, acting as a sort of a pivot over which the blade is made to fit, and the groove 5 of the clamping member 9 co-operate to provide a strong, safe structure. In this way, the members not only are made to fit snugly together and firmly clamp a blade therebetween but they also serve to properly flex the novel blade of the invention, and take advantage of its greater flexibility.

A curved raised portion 32 extends longitudinally and centrally of the blade 16 to provide a central flexing portion which acts as a sort of a hinge. This portion 32 is adapted to fit between the raised portion 7 and indented portion 5 of the guard and clamping members respectively. The hinge not only allows the blade to have a maximum amount of flexibility which is readily taken advantage of when the blade is clamped over the raised portion 7 and projections 23 of the guard member, but serves to relieve the strain placed upon ordinary blades. A central opening 31 in the blade is provided to permit the entrance of the stud 8 of the clamping member. Suitable-indentations may be provided in the under surface of the clamping member to provide for the projections 23.

Spaced slots or openings 30 are provided in the blade to fit over the projections 23 of the guard member. These slots not only serve to make the blade more flexible but when the blade is in position on the guard member they prevent lateral and longitudinal displacement of the blade. The openings extend through the raised portion 30 of the blade to provide spaced flexing portions longitudinally and on either side of the raised portion and laterally spaced flexing portions between the openings of the raised portion. As shown in Fig. 5 the blade at the sides of the central portion has side portions 16' which may move relative to said central raised portion to conform to the members between which it is clamped. In this way as the blade is clamped it is not strained since the intermediate portion allows of the relative movements of ,the side portions.- Otherwise a flat blade is bent for the clamping action throughout its width which sets up strains that in turn modify at least the desired straightness of the cuting edges. v

Having described the invention in the form at present preferred, what it is now desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States A safety razor of the class described. comprising in combination, a separate guard, blade,

clamp and handle, the said guard having an upper blade-supporting surface including a continuous relatively narrow ridge curved on a certain radius and extending longitudinally and centrally thereof and sideportions curving continuously downwardly from opposite longitudinal sides of the ridge, the said side portion being curved on a different radius from that of said trally thereofand'flexible side portions extend-- ing from opposite longitudinal sides of the hinge,

said hinge being curved substantially complementally to said ridge and fitting thereover and being provided with a central aperture in alignment withrsaid central opening of the' guard and spaced apertures at opposite sides of said central aperture through which said lugs ex- .tendwhereby said blade is held against lateral movement relative to said guard, said clamp having a lower blade-clamping surface including a continuous groove extending longitudinally and centrally thereof into, which the. said hinge fits and sideportions curving continuously downwardly from opposite-longitudinal sides of the groove complementally to said side portions of the guard whereby said side portions of the blade may be clamped therebetween, the said handle having a threaded socket in its upper end and said groove of the clamp having a centrally disposed threaded stud extending downwardly therefrom through said central openings in the blade and guard into-said socket whereby said blade is held against longitudinal movement relative to said guard.

HENRY S. GILMAN. 

